History of Conan O'Brien in Timeline
Conan O'Brien is a prominent American television host, comedian, writer, and podcaster recognized for his career in late-night television. He gained fame hosting Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, and Conan. Prior to hosting, O'Brien wrote for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. In recent years, he's expanded his career with the podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, and the travel show Conan O'Brien Must Go. O'Brien's comedic style and interviewing skills have made him a well-known figure in entertainment.
3 hours ago : Conan O'Brien discusses hosting Oscars amidst Iran war; can't help himself with jokes.
Conan O'Brien addressed the challenges of hosting the Oscars during a potential Iran war, aiming for the right tone and joking about not being nominated. He also discussed his career and comedic style.
1929: Birth of Thomas Francis O'Brien
In 1929, Conan O'Brien's father, Thomas Francis O'Brien, was born.
1931: Birth of Ruth O'Brien
In 1931, Conan O'Brien's mother, Ruth O'Brien (née Reardon), was born.
April 18, 1963: Conan Christopher O'Brien Born
On April 18, 1963, Conan Christopher O'Brien was born in Brookline, Massachusetts.
1981: Entered Harvard University
In 1981, Conan O'Brien entered Harvard University as valedictorian of his high school class.
1984: First Presidential Vote
In 1984, Conan O'Brien cast his first vote for president for Walter Mondale and has been a registered Democrat ever since.
1985: Graduated from Harvard University
In 1985, Conan O'Brien graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and literature from Harvard University.
1987: Writers' Strike and Improv Show
In 1987, following the 1987-88 season, during a writers' strike from Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien put on an improvisational comedy revue in Chicago with fellow SNL writers Bob Odenkirk and Robert Smigel, called "Happy Happy Good Show".
January 1988: Hired as Writer for Saturday Night Live
In January 1988, Lorne Michaels, the executive producer of "Saturday Night Live" (SNL), hired Conan O'Brien as a writer for the show.
1988: Writer for Saturday Night Live
In 1988, Conan O'Brien started as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy series "Saturday Night Live".
1989: Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing
In 1989, Conan O'Brien and his fellow SNL writers received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series.
1990: Appearance in SNL Sketch
In 1990, Conan O'Brien appeared as a doorman in a "Saturday Night Live" sketch where Tom Hanks was inducted into the SNL "Five-Timers Club".
1991: Writer and Producer for The Simpsons
From 1991, Conan O'Brien was a writer and producer for "The Simpsons".
1991: Writer for The Simpsons
In 1991, Conan O'Brien became a writer for "The Simpsons", an animated sitcom on Fox.
1991: Quit Saturday Night Live
In 1991, Conan O'Brien quit "Saturday Night Live", citing burnout after the failure of his sitcom and an engagement that fell through.
1991: Lookwell Pilot Airs
In 1991, a television pilot that Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel wrote for "Lookwell" starring Adam West aired on NBC.
1992: Ford Taurus SHO
As part of a long-running gag, Conan O'Brien brought his 1992 Ford Taurus SHO with him to California.
April 26, 1993: Picked as Host of Late Night
On April 26, 1993, Conan O'Brien was picked as the new host of "Late Night".
September 13, 1993: Premiere of Late Night with Conan O'Brien
On September 13, 1993, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" premiered to unfavorable reviews from contemporary critics.
1993: Hosted Late Night with Conan O'Brien
In 1993, Conan O'Brien began hosting "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" on NBC, launching his career as a late-night talk show host.
1993: Host of Late Night
In 1993, Conan O'Brien was selected by Lorne Michaels and NBC to take over David Letterman's position as host of Late Night.
1993: Writer and Producer for The Simpsons
Until 1993, Conan O'Brien was a writer and producer for "The Simpsons".
February 1994: David Letterman's Appearance on Late Night
In February 1994, David Letterman appeared on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", providing a morale boost to the show.
1994: Threats of Cancellation
In 1994, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" was constantly at risk for cancellation; at one point, NBC threatened to put him on a week-to-week contract.
January 1995: Robert Smigel Quit as Head Writer
In January 1995, Robert Smigel quit as head writer of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien", feeling burned out.
1995: Hosted White House Correspondents' Dinner
In 1995, Conan O'Brien hosted the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
1995: White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Host
In 1995, Conan O'Brien served as the master of ceremonies for the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C.
1996: Emmy Award Nomination
In 1996, Conan O'Brien and the Late Night writing team received the first of several annual nominations for the Emmy Award for Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Series.
1997: Writers Guild Award
In 1997, Conan O'Brien and the Late Night writing staff won the Writers Guild Award for Best Writing in a Comedy/Variety Series.
1999: Futurama Appearance
In 1999, Conan O'Brien made an appearance on Futurama in the second-season episode "Xmas Story", playing himself as a head in a jar in the year 3000.
2000: Writers Guild Award
In 2000, Conan O'Brien and the Late Night writing staff won the Writers Guild Award for Best Writing in a Comedy/Variety Series.
2000: Meeting Liza Powel
In 2000, Conan O'Brien met Elizabeth Ann "Liza" Powel, a copywriter for Foote, Cone & Belding, when she appeared in a Late Night with Conan O'Brien sketch.
2000: Class Day Speech at Harvard
In 2000, during his speech given at Class Day at Harvard, Conan O'Brien credited "The Simpsons" with saving him, referring to the career slump he was experiencing before being hired for the show.
2001: Formation of Conaco & Hosting SNL
In 2001, Conan O'Brien formed his own television production company, Conaco. In the same year, he also hosted Saturday Night Live during its 26th season.
2001: Hosted Saturday Night Live
In 2001, Conan O'Brien returned to "Saturday Night Live" as a host.
2002: Writers Guild Award
In 2002, Conan O'Brien and the Late Night writing staff won the Writers Guild Award for Best Writing in a Comedy/Variety Series.
2002: 54th Primetime Emmy Awards Host
In 2002, Conan O'Brien hosted the 54th Primetime Emmy Awards to critical acclaim.
2002: Hosted the Emmy Awards
In 2002, Conan O'Brien hosted the Emmy Awards.
2002: Marriage to Liza Powel
In 2002, Conan O'Brien married Elizabeth Ann "Liza" Powel in her hometown of Seattle after dating for nearly 18 months.
2002: Lookwell Rerun on Trio
In 2002, the television pilot "Lookwell" was rerun on the Trio network. It featured an extended interview with Conan O'Brien.
2003: Birth of Daughter
In 2003, Conan O'Brien and Liza Powel had a daughter.
2003: Writers Guild Award
In 2003, Conan O'Brien and the Late Night writing staff won the Writers Guild Award for Best Writing in a Comedy/Variety Series.
2004: Writers Guild Award
In 2004, Conan O'Brien and the Late Night writing staff won the Writers Guild Award for Best Writing in a Comedy/Variety Series.
October 2005: Consistent Late Night Viewership
As of October 2005, Late Night with Conan O'Brien consistently attracted an audience averaging about 2.5 million viewers for eleven years.
September 2006: Stalking by Father David Ajemian
Starting in September 2006, Conan O'Brien was stalked by Father David Ajemian, who sent O'Brien letters signed as "your priest stalker."
2006: Finnish Presidential Election Influence
In 2006, Conan O'Brien capitalized on his resemblance to Tarja Halonen, the president of Finland, and aired mock political ads during Late Night, influencing the Finnish presidential election. He later traveled to Helsinki and met with Halonen.
2006: Cor Unum Meal Center Opening
In 2006, Conan O'Brien helped open the Cor Unum meal center in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
2006: 58th Primetime Emmy Awards Host
In 2006, Conan O'Brien hosted the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards to critical acclaim.
2006: Hosted the Emmy Awards
In 2006, Conan O'Brien hosted the Emmy Awards.
2007: Emmy Award Win
In 2007, Conan O'Brien and the Late Night writing team won the Emmy Award for Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Series.
2007: Andy Barker, P.I. Series
In 2007, Conan O'Brien executive produced and co-wrote the pilot for the NBC adventure/comedy series Andy Barker, P.I., starring Andy Richter. Despite being named one of the Top Ten Shows of 2007 by Entertainment Weekly, the show was canceled after six episodes due to low ratings.
2007: Purchase of Central Park West Penthouse
In 2007, Conan O'Brien purchased a Central Park West penthouse in New York for $10 million.
2007: Mock Feud Beginnings
In 2007, during the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike, Conan O'Brien staged a mock feud with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
January 2008: Return to TV with Beard
In January 2008, Conan O'Brien returned to late-night TV after a two-month hiatus due to the Writers Guild of America strike, sporting a beard.
April 8, 2008: Ajemian Guilty Plea
On April 8, 2008, Father David Ajemian pleaded guilty to stalking Conan O'Brien.
2008: Mock Feud During Writers' Strike
During the 2008 writers' strike, Conan O'Brien engaged in a mock feud with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert over Mike Huckabee's campaign.
February 20, 2009: Last Episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien
On February 20, 2009, NBC aired the final episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, featuring past clips, a surprise appearance by Andy Richter, and appearances by Will Ferrell, John Mayer, and the White Stripes. O'Brien ended the show by destroying the set and thanking Lorne Michaels, David Letterman, Jay Leno, his wife, and his children.
June 1, 2009: First Tonight Show Guest
On June 1, 2009, Will Ferrell was Conan O'Brien's first guest on The Tonight Show, and Pearl Jam was the first musical guest.
September 25, 2009: Concussion on The Tonight Show
During the taping of The Tonight Show on September 25, 2009, Conan O'Brien suffered a mild concussion after slipping and hitting his head during a comedy sketch with Teri Hatcher. He was examined at a hospital and released the same day.
November 2009: Declining Ratings for The Tonight Show
By November 2009, ratings for Conan O'Brien's The Tonight Show had declined by approximately 2 million viewers compared to the previous year when Jay Leno was the host.
2009: Hosted The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
In 2009, Conan O'Brien hosted "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" on NBC.
2009: Hosted The Tonight Show
In 2009, Conan O'Brien moved to Los Angeles to host his own incarnation of "The Tonight Show".
2009: Brentwood Mansion Purchase
In 2009, Conan O'Brien purchased a $10.5-million mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, to prepare for his move there from New York City to host The Tonight Show.
2009: Irish Catholic Heritage Discussion
On a 2009 episode of Inside the Actors Studio, Conan O'Brien discussed his Irish Catholic heritage, stating his ancestors moved from Ireland in the 1850s and only married other Irish Catholics.
January 7, 2010: NBC Discusses Moving Leno Back to Late Night
On January 7, 2010, NBC executive Jeff Zucker met with Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien to discuss moving Leno out of prime time and back into late night. The proposal involved O'Brien remaining as host of The Tonight Show at 12:05 am, with Leno hosting a 30-minute show at 11:35 pm.
January 2010: NBC Orders Pilots from Conaco
In January 2010, NBC ordered two pilots from Conan O'Brien's production company Conaco: a one-hour courtroom drama, Outlaw, and a half-hour comedy.
January 21, 2010: Agreement to Exit The Tonight Show
On January 21, 2010, it was announced that Conan O'Brien had reached a deal with NBC to exit The Tonight Show the next day. The agreement included a $45 million payment, with $12 million allocated for distribution to his staff.
January 22, 2010: Final Tonight Show with O'Brien
On January 22, 2010, the final Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien aired, featuring guests Tom Hanks, Steve Carell, Neil Young, and Will Ferrell. Will Ferrell sang "Free Bird" and reprised his SNL cowbell. Neil Young sang "Long May You Run".
February 8, 2010: Attempt to Sell Central Park West Penthouse
On February 8, 2010, Conan O'Brien was reported to be selling his Central Park West penthouse in New York for $35 million. He had purchased the apartment in 2007 for $10 million.
March 11, 2010: Announcement of Live Tour
On March 11, 2010, Conan O'Brien announced on Twitter that he would embark on a 30-city live tour beginning April 12, 2010, entitled "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour".
April 12, 2010: Beginning of Live Tour
On April 12, 2010, Conan O'Brien began his "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour" in Eugene, Oregon, with a crowd of 2,500. It was Conan's first live performance since his departure from The Tonight Show.
May 2, 2010: 60 Minutes Interview
After being prohibited from television appearances, Conan O'Brien spoke about the Tonight Show conflict on 60 Minutes on May 2, 2010. He discussed the sudden and violent end to his tenure and his feelings about NBC's decision.
September 15, 2010: Outlaw Premiere
On September 15, 2010, Outlaw, a one-hour courtroom drama produced by Conan O'Brien's production company Conaco, premiered after being ordered in January.
September 2010: Allowed to Work for Another Network
In September 2010, as part of the $45 million deal with NBC, Conan O'Brien was permitted to begin working for another network, leading to speculation about potential destinations, including Fox, Comedy Central, TNT, HBO, FX, Showtime, Revision3, and USA Network.
November 8, 2010: Debut of Conan on TBS
On November 8, 2010, Conan O'Brien's new show, Conan, debuted on TBS, airing Monday through Thursday at 11:00 pm ET/10:00 pm CT.
2010: Post-Tonight Show Beard Growth
After leaving The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in 2010, Conan O'Brien grew a beard.
2010: Hosted Conan on TBS
In 2010, Conan O'Brien began hosting "Conan" on TBS.
2010: Host Change at The Tonight Show
In 2010, highly publicized network politics prompted a host change at "The Tonight Show". Following his departure, O'Brien hosted a live comedy tour.
March 2011: Premiere of Conan O'Brien Can't Stop
In March 2011, the documentary film Conan O'Brien Can't Stop, which followed O'Brien throughout his comedy tour, premiered at the South by Southwest media festival to positive reviews.
May 2011: Beard Shaving on Conan
In May 2011, Conan O'Brien's beard, grown after leaving The Tonight Show, was partially shaved on the set of Conan by Will Ferrell.
June 12, 2011: Honorary Degree from Dartmouth College
On June 12, 2011, Conan O'Brien was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College and delivered the commencement speech.
October 21, 2011: Ordained as a Minister
On October 21, 2011, Conan O'Brien was ordained as a minister by the Universal Life Church Monastery.
November 3, 2011: Same-Sex Marriage on Conan
On November 3, 2011, Conan O'Brien performed a same-sex marriage on the stage of the Beacon Theatre during an episode of Conan, the first to be broadcast on American late night television.
2011: Web Therapy Guest Appearance
In 2011, Conan O'Brien starred as himself in three episodes of the web series Web Therapy, opposite Lisa Kudrow.
2011: Release of Conan O'Brien Can't Stop
In 2011, the documentary "Conan O'Brien Can't Stop" was released. The documentary was about his comedy tour, "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour".
2013: Hosted White House Correspondents' Dinner
In 2013, Conan O'Brien hosted the White House Correspondents' Dinner.
2013: White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Host
In 2013, Conan O'Brien served as the master of ceremonies for the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C.
2013: Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Part 2) Voice Role
In 2013, Conan O'Brien voiced talk show host Dave Endochrine in the DC Universe Animated Original Movie Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (Part 2).
2014: 2014 MTV Movie Awards Host
In 2014, Conan O'Brien hosted the MTV Movie Awards.
2014: TBS Extends Show Through 2018
In 2014, TBS extended Conan O'Brien's show through 2018.
February 2015: Filming in Cuba
In February 2015, following the Cuban thaw, Conan O'Brien became the first American television personality to film in Cuba for more than half a century.
May 20, 2015: Became Longest-Working Late-Night Host
On May 20, 2015, with the retirement of David Letterman, Conan O'Brien became the longest-working late-night talk show host active in the United States.
2015: Visit to Armenian Genocide Memorial
In 2015, Conan O'Brien visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan with his assistant Sona as part of his Conan Without Borders visit to Armenia to raise awareness about the genocide.
April 2016: Visit to South Korea and North Korea
In April 2016, Conan O'Brien visited South Korea and, through a technicality, stepped into North Korea at the Korean Demilitarized Zone with Steven Yeun.
2016: 5th NFL Honors Host
In 2016, Conan O'Brien hosted the 5th NFL Honors in San Francisco, California.
2016: Carpinteria House Purchase
In 2016, Conan O'Brien purchased an ocean-front house in Carpinteria, California.
2017: TBS Extends Show Through 2022
In 2017, TBS extended Conan O'Brien's show through 2022.
November 18, 2018: Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend Podcast Debut
On November 18, 2018, Conan O'Brien's production company, Team Coco, partnered with Earwolf to launch his weekly podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, with Will Ferrell as the first guest.
2018: Hosted Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend
In 2018, Conan O'Brien began hosting the podcast series "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend".
2018: Game of Thrones Reunion Special Host
In 2018, Conan O'Brien hosted a reunion special in Northern Ireland for Game of Thrones for the final season of the series.
2018: Emmy Win for Conan Without Borders
In 2018, Conan Without Borders won an Emmy Award.
2018: Comedy Tour Hiatus
In late 2018, Conan O'Brien took a three-month hiatus from his show to launch another national comedy tour.
January 22, 2019: Return of Conan in a New Format
On January 22, 2019, Conan returned to TBS in a new half-hour format without a live band.
2019: Death Stranding Video Game Appearance
In 2019, Conan O'Brien made a guest appearance as the "Wandering MC" in the video game Death Stranding, communicating with the player through voice lines and facial expressions.
2019: Late Night Clips Posted Online
In 2019, clips from Conan O'Brien's time on Late Night began being posted on his TBS website and the Team Coco YouTube channel.
March 30, 2020: Remote Production Due to COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Conan O'Brien's show switched to a remotely-produced format from his home beginning March 30, 2020.
July 2020: Return to Filming at Largo
In July 2020, it was announced that Conan would continue with the remotely-produced format but would be filmed with limited on-site staff from the Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles and no studio audience.
November 2020: Announcement of Conan's End on TBS
In November 2020, TBS announced that Conan would end in June 2021.
June 2021: Retired from Late-Night Television
In June 2021, Conan O'Brien retired from late-night television, ending a nearly 30-year run as a late-night host.
June 2021: Final Show & Move to HBO Max
In June 2021, Conan O'Brien's final show aired, marking the end of his TBS show and his 28-year run as a late-night host. He announced his move to a weekly untitled variety show on HBO Max.
June 24, 2021: Final Show on TBS
On June 24, 2021, Conan O'Brien's final show on TBS aired, featuring a live audience and marking the end of his twenty-eight year run as a late-night host.
August 2021: Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend Podcast Download Statistics
As of August 2021, Conan O'Brien's podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, had been downloaded over 250 million times, averaging more than 9 million downloads per month.
2021: Game of Thrones Reunion Special Release on HBO Max
In 2021, Conan O'Brien's Game of Thrones reunion special that he hosted in 2018 was released on HBO Max.
2021: End of Conan on TBS
In 2021, Conan O'Brien's show "Conan" concluded its run on TBS.
February 26, 2022: Saturday Night Live Cameo
On February 26, 2022, Conan O'Brien made a cameo appearance as himself on Saturday Night Live, inducting John Mulaney into the Five-Timers Club.
May 2022: Team Coco Sale to SiriusXM
In May 2022, Conan O'Brien's podcast and the entire Team Coco digital media business were sold to SiriusXM for $150 million. The sale included other Team Coco podcasts and the development of a comedy channel.
July 2022: Carpinteria House Listed for Sale
In July 2022, Conan O'Brien listed his ocean-front house in Carpinteria, California, for sale for $16.5 million.
2022: TBS Extends Show Through 2022
In 2017, TBS extended Conan O'Brien's show through 2022.
2022: Cameo on Saturday Night Live
In 2022, Conan O'Brien made a cameo appearance on "Saturday Night Live".
April 18, 2024: Conan O'Brien Must Go Release
On April 18, 2024, HBO released Conan O'Brien Must Go on Max, a four-episode international travel series, to critical acclaim. The show features O'Brien traveling to meet fans he'd previously connected with via video calls in his podcast series Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan. To promote the release of Conan O'Brien Must Go, O'Brien appeared on Hot Ones.
May 2024: Conan O'Brien Must Go Renewed for Second Season
In May 2024, Conan O'Brien Must Go was renewed for a second season consisting of six episodes.
2024: Starred in Conan O'Brien Must Go
In 2024, Conan O'Brien starred in the travel show "Conan O'Brien Must Go" on Max.
2024: Death of Thomas Francis O'Brien
In 2024, Conan O'Brien's father, Thomas Francis O'Brien, passed away.
January 2025: Mark Twain Prize Announcement
In January 2025, it was announced that O'Brien would be the 2025 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
March 2, 2025: 97th Academy Awards Host
On March 2, 2025, Conan O'Brien hosted the 97th Academy Awards for the first time, receiving wide acclaim and achieving the ceremony's best U.S. television ratings in five years.
2025: Longest Serving Late Night Host
As of 2025, Conan O'Brien is the longest-serving host in the history of the Late Night franchise.
2025: Hosted the Academy Awards
In 2025, Conan O'Brien hosted the Academy Awards. He was also inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame and is the recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
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